IPPN Deputy Principals Conference 2023

Thank You To Our Exhibitors

IPPN would like to thank our 30 exhibiting companies that went to great effort in presenting their products and services at the Deputy Principals’ Conference 2023. The support of exhibiting companies helps IPPN to deliver our Annual Conference – please consider these companies when making purchases for your school over the coming year.

An Overview Of The Event

IPPN Deputy President Louise Tobin opened the conference at Croke Park on Thursday afternoon 9th February, welcoming the 400 deputy principals and guests to the first face-to-face event for deputy principals since 2019. Leadership coaches Rachel Doogue and Mary Pyne delivered a superb session on ‘Leading meetings for better outcomes’. As many attendees were at the IPPN conference for the first time, this session proved to be an invaluable ice-breaker as it ensured that 6–8 people at each table spent the first hour at the event discussing communication in their schools, and getting to know each other a little.

IPPN CEO Páiric Clerkin addressed the conference on the theme of ‘Leading effectively together’, and outlined the importance of the IPPN Sustainable Leadership report and the ongoing advocacy work to deliver on its recommendations. He thanked the school leaders present who have ‘risen to the challenge of leading our schools under extremely difficult circumstances, always putting the needs of the children in your care above all else. On their behalf, I thank you and pay tribute to your efforts. I believe we must continue to reflect and to remind ourselves that what was achieved by all of you since March 2020 was truly remarkable. We can never forget what you have accomplished’

Páiric also highlighted ongoing workload issues and reduced supports for leaders, insisting ‘Give our Deputy Principals the time to lead with the implementation of the new Primary School Curriculum. Future generations of children will be the beneficiaries’. Among the other challenges addressed were SEN resourcing, Section 37a, the staffing crisis and the need for an ‘immediate commitment to investment in a programme similar to the CLASS

Hours Programme (…) to minimise the loss of teaching time to our most vulnerable children’, as well as the wave of mental health issues in children and the need for ‘supports to be provided within schools’.

As well as ongoing advocacy with the Department and education stakeholders for improved supports and resources for primary school leaders, the CEO highlighted other work currently underway by IPPN including ensuring that every principal and deputy will have access to a local support group, the redevelopment of ippn.ie, expansion of our Headstart programme to support school leaders to build leadership capacity and a new online recruitment portal within EducationPosts.

On Friday morning, 10th February, IPPN President Brian O’Doherty addressed the conference, starting with a memorable input on “The truth hurts”, regarding IPPN’s required improvement in engaging with and facilitating the involvement of deputy principals in our work. He assured deputy principals that IPPN is ‘totally committed to ensuring that our Deputies feel equally engaged and supported’. Using four fascinating partner pairings, Brian spoke about the concept of co-leadership or partnership as a ‘central tenet of effective leadership of schools’ and the need for a shared vision, a sense of common mission or unity of purpose, the importance of complimentary skillsets and valuing the skillset of the other, as well as the importance of harmony.

On the withdrawal of release days for deputy principals in schools that have administrative principals, Brian commented: ‘What a retrograde step that was. Those release days, introduced as a Covid measure, had a profoundly positive impact. […] Not only should this scheme have been retained, it should have been expanded to include deputy principals in all schools. How can we seek to develop and embed a culture of co-leadership or shared leadership, if the two senior leaders in the school are never in the same place at the same time?’

Brian delivered an overview of the Sustainable Leadership report findings, concluding that ‘the report carries a message of hope as it is solution focused. We have endeavoured to explore the key issues, and identify what needs to happen to ensure school leadership of the highest quality in our schools as well as being a leadership role that is sustainable. […] The report has been well received by a majority of the education partners and stakeholders and it seems to resonate with the lived experience of school leaders. To date there has been no response to the report from the Department of Education. Perhaps, to bring it back to where I started, it’s a case of the truth hurts. As the professional body for school leaders, we have an obligation to give voice to that truth because, if you recall the second part of that Mark Twain phrase – silence kills. I assure you that we will continue to give voice to that truth’.

Ann Lynskey, principal of Tierneevin NS, Gort, Co. Galway and deputy principal Aoife O’Connor shared their experience of and approach to Co-leadership. It was a fascinating presentation about trust, collaboration and honesty that resonated strongly with everyone.

Seconded deputy principal Sharon Healy and her colleague Maureen Smith, both of the NCSE gave their perspectives on Inclusive Best Practice, along with a link to a number of key resources.

The conference was brought to a close with an insightful panel discussion, chaired by Educate Together CEO Emer Nowlan on Inclusion and Diversity in Teaching. Panellists included primary principal Simon Lewis, NUIG associate professor Dr Manuela Heinz, PDST EAL Advisor Annie Asgard and Marino Institute senior lecturer Dr Rory McDaid

Seminar presentations and speech texts are available on ippn.ie under CPD & Events – Deputy Principals’ Conference

Are you planning to retire in 2023?

If you have made the decision to retire or step back from leadership in 2023, we wish you every happiness and fulfilment in the future. We would like to give every principal who has retired or planning to retire an opportunity to provide feedback on their decision to move on from their leadership role, via an online survey.

The survey asks about your decision to retire, and your experience as a school leader. It should take no more than 8 minutes to complete. This is our first year surveying members who are retiring and your feedback would be much appreciated. Please email jackie.oreilly@ippn.ie for a link to the survey.

In order to provide professional support to the new principal on their appointment, we would appreciate if you would please ask the incoming principal to contact IPPN Support Office. This will ensure that they can avail of the various supports and services from IPPN from the very start of their time as a school leader.